Page:Historyoffranc00yong.djvu/148

 124 !H/STOKY OF FRANCE. [cHAr. dangerous of these was the Marshal Duke of Biron, an old companion in arms of Henry, who, though amply rewarded, thought his overweening claims neglected. He listened to the persuasions of Charles Emmanuel^ Duke of Savoy^ who during the French troubles had re- covered the marquisate of Saluzzo without declaring war. When Henry called on him to resign it, he refused, trusting to support from Spain. The duke then, by the promise of his daughter's hand and of the government of Burgundy, persuaded Biron to engage to lead his master into danger and then go over to him. But Henry was too prompt, and marched so quickly on Savoy, that, before the winter of 1 600- 1 closed the campaign, all the Savoyard towns on the northern slope of the Alps were in his hands. Spain did not stir, and Charles Emmanuel was forced to give up Bresse, Bugey, and Gex in exchange for Saluzzo. France thus lost her outlying territory on the Italian side of the Alps ; but she gained in exchange the whole left bank of the Rhone from the point where that river turns southward, except the small states, Orange, Avignon, and Venaissin, which were now altogether surrounded by France. Then Biron, fearing that his plots might come to light, made known a part of them, and was pardoned. Still he could not rest, and in 1602 he leagued himself with the Dukes of Bouillon and Epernon and others who chafed against order, and even stirred up the Huguenots by hints that their religion was in danger. Poitou and Guienne were on the point of insurrection, with Spain and Savoy to back them, when Henry received warning, and having a tour in the disaffected provinces, revived all their personal aftcction for him. He then summoned Biron to his court. He was attached to his old comrade, and longed to forgive him. But this could not be without such full and free confession as might be a pledge for the future ; and Biron, thinking that his guilt was unknown, was obstinately silent, though the king twice urged him in private to tell all, and assured him of pardon. When he continued to conceal whatever he could, the king, who had ample proofs of his dangerous designs, dismissed him with the words, "Adieu, Baron of Biron," marking that he was fallen from all his acquired titles. He was tried by the Parliament of Paris, convicted by his own letters, and beheaded in 1602. The Duke of Bouillon, a Hu- guenot and lord of the little principality of Sedan, fled to Geneva on the arrest of Biron. But he soon returned